Jay-Jay's POV
The final bell rang like freedom, and Section E poured out of classrooms like a tidal wave headed straight for Eman's. Serina's text had lit up the group chat: "Eman's after school? My treat. Bring the chaos! 😊" Phones buzzed nonstop — C-in planning selfies, Felix demanding extra lumpia, Percy promising "epic pranks."
Keifer grabbed my hand in the hall, bracelet glinting. "Mom's really doing this?"
"100%," I grinned. "She loves the noise."
We piled into her car — Keiren, Keigan squeezing in back, Serina passing out mango shakes. "Ready for round two?" she asked, eyes sparkling.
"Born ready," Percy yelled from the sidewalk, already waving us down.
Eman's was packed when we arrived. He'd cleared the biggest table, apron dusted with flour, cousins Isha and Aaizah carrying trays of sizzling sisig and garlic rice. Section E claimed every chair — Rakki saving spots, Drake quietly stacking plates, even Yuri sliding in at the edge with a nod.
"Serina Watson!" Eman boomed, hugging her like old family. "Heard the legend. Welcome home."
She laughed, warm and real. "Heard about you too. Restaurant hero."
"Team Jay-Keifer," he winked, sliding over free halo-halo.
Chaos erupted. C-in reenacted the standoff for the tenth time, complete with napkin "guns." Felix and Percy arm-wrestled over the last lumpia. Aries lectured on "proper family dynamics," Ella snapped pics, Freya and Mica passed baby pics of everyone.
Serina fit right in, asking Eman about his cousins ("Japan to Philippines? Brave!"), trading recipes with Aunty Gemma, even pulling Yuri into a story about "second chances."
"You built this," she whispered to me later, nodding at Keifer laughing with his brothers. "Don't let anyone tell you different."
Isha and Aaizah joined the table, giggling over C-in's selfies. Eman refilled plates endlessly. "Family discount," he grinned.
Gago I said to C-in while he was stealing my food.
Keifer caught my eye and mouthed profanity.
"FuckKkkkk" I said a bit too loudly